Combination undergarment



liFw. 17 W5 s. HOENIG 2,49%,34M

COMBINATION UNDERGARMENT Filed Jan. 15, 1947 Fatented Feb. 7,

ETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in combination garments, whichhas for its object to provide a light and form-fitting garment adaptedto snugly follow and mold every delicate curve of the feminine figurewhile supporting and molding is bust, diaphragm, abdomen and hips.

An object of my invention is to provide a garment of the characterdescribed which will give a firm support to the busts and at the sametime will be capable of encircling the waist and torso portion thereof,allowing freedom of movement in the brassiere portion, and at the sametime giving grace and. flexibility to the waist and torso portions ofthe garment.

Another object is to provide in a combination garment of the characterdescribed, bust pocket members incorporated therein and so constructedand arranged as to afford flexibility and shift to hold the wearers bustfirmly, sufficient and proper, during lateral twisting of the wearersbody.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a combination garmentof the character described formed with bust pocket members incorporatedtherein and so constructed as" to afford flexibility and room for theexpansion of the pockets during periods when the bust of the wearerassumes larger than normal proportions.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a combination garmentof the character described, wherein the brassiere pockets are separablefrom the girdle portion member thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved combinationgarment of the character described, the lower and upper body portionswhereof are easily adjustable to the waist length of the wearer and theskirt portion whereof shall have yieldable elasticity for the expansionand contractions thereof in any posture of the wearer.

A yet further object of the invention is to pro vide a combinationgarment of the character described, in which the pull on the garterportion of the garment shall cause no strain on the upper portion of thegarment, whereby the vertical support will permit the greatest possiblelateral pull, twisting movement without discomfort.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a combinationgarment of the character described, constructed with ventilationopenings between the brassiere pockets and the girdle portion so as tofirmly support the busts and permit of the greatest possible lateraltwisting or shifting movement.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combination garment withreleasably attachable back members at the upper end of the garment,split from the body of the garment, and so constructed as to easilyfasten and unfasten, while at the same time greatly minimizing thepossibility of its unfastening of itself.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an improved durablecombination garment which shall be inexpensive to manufacture, whereinthe flexible coacting back members are adapted to permit yieldingeffects in the garment to accommodate the movements of the body, whichshall be attractive in appearance and practical and efiicient to a highdegree in use.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a combination garmentof the character described wherein the brassiere member portion isprovided with detachable shoulder straps and the upper portion of saidbrassire member is so constructed as to have insertible and removablestays, forming thereby a support for said brassire member without theuse of shoulder straps.

These and other objects of my invention are made more obvious inconnection with the accompanying description and drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view showing the garment embodying theinvention in use.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the garment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion of thegarment, illustrating a modi fied construction.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates a garmentembodying the invention here shown as a foundation garment or acombination brassire and girdle.

Said garment i8 comprises a pair of front, symmetrical front sections, Hattached together by a front center seam or tape 12. Sections ll extendfrom the lower end of the garment to its upper edge. The upper ends, Haof the sections ii are inclined upwardly and inwardly toward an apex 83located between the breast or bust pockets I l. Said sections H may bemade of cloth cut on the bias if desired to give greater elasticity tothe garment.

Attached to sections II are a pair of symmetrical front sections l6which may also be made It of cloth cut on the bias. Between sections Hand [6 are the seams or tapes ll.

Sections extend from the lower edge of the garment to edges [8 which arecontinuations of edges Ha of sections H. Sections H and ES vary in widthso as to give shape to the garment and to conform to the waist and hipsof the wearer.

Between sections II at their lower ends is received a triangular elasticgusset 20.

Stitched to front sections it, about seams 2!, are the side sections 22made of elastic cloth such as two way stretch textile material. Sections22 extend to the lower end of the garment. Said sections 22 extend up toa point 23 below the upper end of the garment. Sections 22 areinterconnected about taped seams 22a by a back section 2 which may bemade of cloth cut on the bias or straight. The lower edge of backsection 2d is at the lower end of the garment. Said back sectionterminates at its upper end in an edge 26. Said section is split downthe middle from its upper edge down to a point near the waistline, andthe split edges are provided with slide actuated fasteners 29.

Stitched to sections 22 by V-shaped seams 38 located below the upperends 23 of said. sections, are sections st of cloth overlying andextending above said sections 22 to downwardly and rearwardly inclinedupper edges as. Stitched to sections 3? about taped seams 222), whichare extensions oi taped seams 22a, are substantially triangular sections35. Said sections 35 are seamed to the upper end of back section 24 byseams 35 which extend from seams 22c inwardly but terminate short of thecentral split in said back section. Such construction provides straps 31at the inner ends of sections Said straps 3i are located at the upperend of the back or the garment adjacent the brassiere portion of thegarment. Said straps 3i may be releasably fastened by hook and eyefasteners 33, or buttons and button holes or by an other quicklydetachable fastening means. In Fig. 2, the fasteners are shown opened ordetached. The straps, being split from the back 24, permit stretching ofthe garment, and allow free bending or twisting of the body of thewearer.

I have discovered that by leavin the upper portion of the back membersfree and not secured to the skirt member of the garment, I therebyobtain freedom of movement, the back portion adjusting itself toaccommodate the body shifts and yielding to any movement of the body ofthe wearer, without strain on the remaining portions of the garment.

I have also discovered that this free upper back portion holds thegarment in closed position, is simple for unfastening, since it isflexible. It moreover prevents the riding of the zipper closure,sometimes caused by motion of the body, since it serves as a separateand independent closure means.

This free portion also permits flexibility on the remaining portions ofthe garment, obviating thereby strain on th rear portion of the garmentdue to lateral twist or pull, and substantially supports the upperportion or bust portion of the garment.

At the upper ends of sections H are angularly inclined darts t0extending to the upper edges of said sections, for the purpose ofshaping the garment, for additional room for support of the breasts inaddition to the support provided by the breast pocket members adja centthereto.

The breast pockets i4 may each have a lace outer portion iii, and aninner cloth reinforcing portion at its inner side, and located at thelower side of the pocket. Portion 3?; may be stitched to portion t! bylines of stitching 43. The lower edge d5 of the pocket is spaced fromthe upper edges, partly of sections 2 l8, produca crescent shapedopening At opposite sides of opening 59, each pocket is attached tosections it and 22 b slide actuated fasteners 53, 54, respectively. Saidfasteners are of the type which permits entire separation 01' thepockets from the remainder of the garment. If desired the sides of thepockets may be stitched to sections ii, 22 at M, respectively, insteadof being detachably attached thereto by slide fasteners or other quicklydetachable means.

Breast pockets is may be connected to the back sections Si by shoulderstraps 60 if desired. When the breast pockets i i are detached, theshoulder straps can be out from said pockets. Thus the garment may beworn without the breast pockets.

Furthermore, the provision of openings permits ease of movement of thebody and allows for expansion of the busts.

I have discovered that this opening 50 gives the bust of the figuresubstantial support, the pull on the garment not affecting the cupportions i l. Moreover, this opening is a means of ventilation.

Regardless of th posture of the wearer, or

' the strain on the garment, or the pull of the hose supporter, the cupsretain the busts while the resilience of the cups in combination withthe darted adjacent thereto portion of the garment, give additional roomfor expansion of the cups and accommodate room for the busts wheneverthe busts fill up and enlarge.

Moreover, I have discovered that this opening is essentially ofadvantage to the wearers comfort since no artificial pressure is exertedthereby upon. the bust, such as might result in certain organicindispcsitions to which this deiicate portion of the body issusceptible.

There is a decided advantage in making the pockets i i separable sincethe separable garment is easier to clean or wash. At the same time, themember portions may be used separately or jointly, that is, the girdlemember without the brassiere, or both brassiere and girdle memberstogether as a unit.

In Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a modified construction. Garment Hidillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is the same as the garment shown in Fig. 1except that the shoulder straps are replaced by stiiieners or stays 15in pockets l2 stitched to the bust pockets l4 and radiating from theapex of each pocket.

I may make the shoulder straps which are illustrated in Fig. 1detachable and securable to the bust pockets by means of buttons, orhook and eye, or snap fastener, or any other means iii of securing thesaid straps to the bust pockets of said combination garment.

I have discovered that by stitching these pockets E2 to the reverse orso-called left side of the bust pocket, I thereby provide room for theinsertion'and removal of any type of rigid yet flexible stay, which willat the option of the wearer act as a support of the garment, withoutrecourse to shoulder straps.

While I have tried to describe the invention in its detail, such slightmodifications thereof as embody in principle the invention are, ofcourse, understood to b within the scope of the present invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. A combination girdle andbrassiere garment, comprising a body extending from below the hips ofthe wearer to just'below the breasts of the wearer at the front of thegarment, and to above the waistline of the wearer at the back of thegarment, and a pair of breast pockets separate from one another, eachbreast pocket having a curved lower edge having upwardly and outwardlyinclined outer portions, and said body being formed at its upper endwith a pair of curved edges each having upwardly and outwardly inclinededge portions complementary to the lower upwardly and outwardly inclinededge portions of each pocket, and means for detachably attaching eachpocket to said body portion at said upwardly and downwardly inclinedcomplementary edge portions of said pocket and body, the means fordetachably attaching each pocket to the body being spaced from oneanother and each pocket being separable from the body by detaching themeans which detachably attaches each pocket to the body.

2. A combination girdle and brassire garment, comprising a bodyextending from below the hips of the wearer to just below the breasts ofthe wearer at the front of the garment, and to above the waistline ofthe wearer at the back of the garment, and a pair of breast pocketsseparate from one another, each breast pocket having a curved lower edgehaving upwardly and outwardly inclined outer portions, said body beingformed at its upper end with a pair of curved edges each having upwardlyand outwardly inclined edge portions complementary to the lower upwardlyand outwardly inclined edge portions of each pocket, means fordetachably attaching each pocket to said body portion at said upwardlyand outwardly inclined complementary edge portions of said pocket andbody, the means for detachably attaching each pocket to the body beingspaced from one another and each pocket being separable from the body bydetaching the means which detachably attaches each pocket to the body,said body being formed at the back with an upper edge portion and with aslit extending down from said last mentioned upper edge portion, meansfor detachably attaching opposite sides of said slit together, and saidgarment further being formed at the back and above said last mentionedupper edge portion with a pair of strap sections extending from thesides of the garment toward each other, and said sections beingseparated from the last mentioned upper edge portion, and means fordetachably attaching together the meeting ends of said straps.

3. A combination girdle and brassiere garment, comprising a bodyextending from below the hips of the wearer to above the waistline ofthe wearer and a pair of separate breast pockets, means for attachingspaced portions of the lower edge of each breast pocket to spacedportions of the upper edge of the body so that said breast pockets areindividually detachable from said body and are separable from oneanother, the lower edge of each breast pocket and the upper edge of thebody between the pair of spaced attaching means for said pocket beingspaced from one another to form an opening between each breast pocketand the body. and between the spaced attaching means for said pocket. 1

4. A combination girdle and brassiere garment, comprising a bodyxtending from below the hips of the wearer to above the waistline of thewearer, and a pair of separate breast pockets, means for attachingspaced portions of the lower edge of each breast pocket to spacedportions of the front of the upper edge of the body so that said breastpockets are individually detachable from said body and are separablefrom one another, the lower edge of each breast pocket and the upperedge of the body between each pair of spaced attaching means for saidpocket, being spaced from one another to form an opening between eachbreast pocket and the body and between the spaced attaching means forsaid pocket, said body at the back being formed with an upper edge andwith strap sections extending toward each other and above said lastmentioned upper edge and spaced therefrom, and means for detachablyattaching together the inner ends of said strap sections.

5. A combination girdle and brassire foundation garment comprising abody portion having side sections and a back section connecting saidside sections, and pair of separate breast pockets removably attached tosaid body portion, each breast pocket being attachable to said body byspaced fastener means leaving an opening between said spaced fastenermeans where the central portion of the lower edge of each breast pocketis unconnected to said body; said garment being provided with a pair ofstraps extending from said side sections and detachably attached to saidbreast pockets, respectively; said body being formed at the back thereofwith an upper edge portion, a slit extending down from said upper edgeportion and a slit extending horizontally in between said upper edgeportions and said lower edge portion of said back portion of saidgarment, and fastening means for said downward-slit back portions of thegarment aforesaid.

6. A combination girdle and brassire foundation garment comprising abody portion having front sections, and a pair of separate breastpockets each having edge portions at opposite ends of the lower edgethereof, means for removably attaching said edge portions to spaced edgeportions of the upper edge of said front sections of said body portion,each breast pocket being unattached to said body between said spacedfastener means to form an opening, said body being provided with dartsextending to said opening, said body at the back being formed with freeupper end portions and a slit extending down below said free upper endback portions, and fastening means for said free upper end portions ofsaid garment and also fastening means for said opposite sides of saidextending downward slit portion of said back portion of said garment.

7. A combination girdle and brassire garment, comprising a bodyextending from below the hips of the wearer to just below the breasts ofthe wearer at the front of the garment, and to above the waistline ofthe wearer at the back of the garment; said body being formed at itsfront end with a pair of curved edges each formed with upwardly andoutwardly inclined outer edge portions; and a pair of breast pocketsseparate from one another and separate from said body; each of saidbreast pockets having a curved lower edge of which its upwardly andoutwardly inclined outer edge portions are complementary to the upwardlyand outwardly inclined edge portions of said body; means for attachingand detaching each pocket to said body at said upwardly and outwardlyinclined edge portions of said curved edges of said pocket and body;said outwardly and upwardly attaching and detaching means being spacedapart and the space between said attaching and detaching meanscomprising a ores cent shaped opening; said. body being formed at backwith a slit extending vertically down the middle from its upper edgeportion, and having means for closing and opening the opposite sides ofsaid slit.

8. The structure in' accordance with claim 7, and said garment furtherbeing formed at above the upper edge portion of said back with a pair ofstrap sections, said strap sections having free ends, and means forattaching and detaching said free ends of said strap sections.

, '9. The structure as set forth in claim 8, and

said breast pockets having shoulder straps de- 20 8 tachably connectedthereto and the back of the garment aforesaid.

1 SALLEE- HOENIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,524,212 Rebsamen Jan. 27, 19251,992,845 Solomon Feb. 25, 1935 2,072,839 Robbins Mar. 2, 1937 2,102,801Kunstadter' Dec. 21, 1937 2,118,592 Davis May 24, 1938 2,333,268 MoonNov. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 471,412 Germany Feb.12, 1929

